'The game has gone mad' - players and coaches attack 'nonsensical' VAR

Another day of disgraceful decisions has led to increased criticism of the totally out-of-sync system that simply isn't working

4:00am on Monday 19th October 2020
By Paul Macdonald

If you're still willing to defend the implementation of VAR at this point, then you're part of the problem.

The farcical decisions that blighted the thrilling 2-2 draw in the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool led to ire not only from the players and coaches directly involved, but from people with no connection to the game.

Virgil Van Dijk's ACL injury suffered at the hands of a vicious Jordan Pickford lunge wasn't even reviewed because of an offside in the build-up, an issue that Liverpool have asked the Premier League for an official response on.

Sadio Mane becomes the first player to be caught offside for the hair on his elbow being to long #EVELIV #MerseysideDerby pic.twitter.com/2lCCUZjAoC
— betclever (@bet_clever) October 17, 2020

And Sadio Mane's illogical, simply unfounded offside in the final minute robbed the Reds of the victory and led toall fans questioning just how we have allowed this to happen to football.

Jurgen Klopp was very clear in his criticism of the decision, saying afterwards: "I'm a big supporter of VAR but you expect them to make the right decisions. I've done 10 interviews and everyone has told me it's not offside. That doesn't lift my mood."

Klopp: "I'm a big supporter of VAR but you expect them to make the right decisions. I've done 10 interviews and everyone has told me it's not offside. That doesn't lift my mood."
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) October 17, 2020

But the farcical nature of the decision-making process made by faceless, unaccountable individuals leaving everything to the technology and hoping that they, personally, never have to take responsibility for a decision, led to criticism from other professionals.

Cesc Fabregas summed up the mood of most people watching:

How’s that offside? Game’s gone mad.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) October 17, 2020

While discussing specifically the Van Dijk tackle, former Liverpool player Luis Garcia called for an ex-professional to be added to the VAR team - you know, somehow who actually understands football and physical contact, instead of someone who has never been anywhere near a tackle in their lives.

Everytime i see @VirgilvDijk challenge...looks worse !! Honestly, that's the reason I think someone who has played the game should be on the VAR room. He'll know that's a bad bad tackle from the Keeper...
— Luis Garcia (@luchogarcia14) October 17, 2020

And the final word was left to Jordan Henderson, who was denied the winning goal in a derby by the most marginal of offsides :

Hard to find the words right now... will leave others to explain it 🤷‍♂️
Great performance from the lads!! #YNWA pic.twitter.com/D1N04jCab4
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) October 17, 2020

And yet no-one will explain it. There will be no public figure arriving to explain these decisions, everything will remain behind closed doors and it will be brushed under the carpet until the next stupid decision arises. Because that's what IFAB, with the referees complicit, do.

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